The room was wild enough for the two to have their sparring match, and it wasn't against the rules for one to fight within the base. However, it was strictly prohibited for anyone to accidentally kill their opponent.
Right now, Alex and Gwen stood opposite each other, both dressed in white sports attire. The tension between them was thick, their eyes locked, focusing entirely on one another.
Meanwhile, at the side, Elder Rooney, Merrick, Tamsin, and a few other faction members stood by, eager to witness the fight. They watched silently, their expressions a mix of curiosity and intensity. Elder Rooney had already declared for the fight to begin, his voice firm and authoritative. The atmosphere was charged, waiting for the first move.
Without warning, Gwen was the first to act. Her speed was unbelievable, moving from her position faster than Alex could even react. In the blink of an eye, she appeared in front of him, her swift movements almost impossible to track.
Before Alex could properly defend himself, he found himself airborne. His body flew backward, crashing into the far wall with a loud thud. Gwen had kicked him square in the chest, her power leaving him momentarily stunned. The force of the impact echoed throughout the room.
Gwen's eyes widened slightly, surprised that Alex was already attempting to get back on his feet. Though clearly in pain, he staggered against the wall, using one hand to hold himself up. His breathing was heavy, his chest rising and falling with effort. The look in his eyes, however, was determined.
"Just like I thought," Gwen remarked, her tone calm but with a hint of admiration. "You must've been taught a few things by now. That means I shouldn't hold back." With that, she darted forward again, her movements precise and unrelenting.
Alex braced himself, feeling a sense of panic rise within him. He wasn't sure he could keep up with her speed or strength. His mind raced, but then something shifted. A strange surge of power began to build inside him, like a flicker of energy expanding through his limbs. He had felt this before.
'This must be it... the reflection effect,' Alex thought, as a small glimmer of hope sparked within him. He recalled the unique ability he possessed: no matter how strong Gwen's strikes were, he could mirror that strength back to her. He just had to endure the pain. Gritting his teeth, Alex raised his arm to block Gwen's next attack.
But when her kick connected, the force behind it was overwhelming. Alex's arm was knocked to the side, and a sickening bone-shattering sound filled the room.
"Argh…!" Alex cried out, the pain shooting through his body like fire. He clutched his arm, his fingers trembling as the agony surged through him.
What Alex hadn't fully understood about the reflection effect was that while his power increased with every hit, so did the pain. He could still feel every bone-crushing blow. The boost in energy didn't lessen the suffering—it was the price he had to pay for such an ability.
Even so, something remarkable was happening. Despite the intense pain, Alex felt his strength multiplying. His power seemed to double within moments. The energy rushing through him was intoxicating, urging him to push forward. Clenching his fists, he charged toward Gwen, his body moving almost on instinct.
But Gwen was quicker. Before Alex could reach her, she vanished from his sight, reappearing several feet away. Her agility was astonishing, and Alex found himself skidding to a halt, breathing hard, trying to keep up with her movements.
His eyes scanned the room, searching for her. Sweat dripped down his brow as his chest heaved with each labored breath. The surge of power inside him continued to build, but so did the weight of the pain. He gritted his teeth again, knowing he couldn't let the agony stop him.
"I won't let you play those tricks on me!" Alex shouted, his voice filled with determination as he charged forward. His speed was impressive, his body moving swiftly, but he knew deep down he was facing someone far beyond his level.
Just when Alex thought he had Gwen within reach, her figure suddenly split into two.
"Haha… an illusion," Alex muttered, noticing that one of the two Gwen's appeared distorted, like a reflection in rippling water. The slight waviness made it clear that one wasn't real. Meanwhile, both Gwen figures were already in motion, swinging their legs toward him in a synchronized attack.
Alex, trusting his instincts, ignored the distorted version and focused on the one he believed to be real. As her leg came toward him, he managed to grab it, feeling the raw strength behind the kick. But even though he had a firm grip, the sheer power of the blow sent his hand flying to the side, his arm aching from the impact.
Before he could regain control, a sharp, unbearable pain surged through him, much like the pain he'd felt earlier in their battle. The force of it caused him to stumble, and his body hit the floor hard, his face smashing into the ground with a painful thud.
"You think I'm fake, huh?" Gwen's voice taunted, her tone cold and mocking. "You have no idea what I'm capable of." As she spoke, her body faded away, vanishing into thin air.
Alex's heart pounded in his chest, dread rising inside him. He could feel something terrible was about to happen. Without thinking, he threw himself to the side, desperately trying to evade whatever was coming next. His instincts screamed at him to move, and he obeyed, hoping to avoid the incoming danger.
"Where do you think you're going?" Gwen's voice echoed through the room, sharp and menacing. In an instant, Alex felt a cold hand wrap around his throat, squeezing tightly. His breath hitched, panic surging through him as he realized she had caught him.
Gasping for air, Alex quickly gathered his remaining strength, mustering all the power he had. He began to throw punch after punch at the figure holding him up, each strike meant to force her to release him. But to his horror, each hit seemed to pass right through her, as if she wasn't even there. His blows were useless.
With a cold smirk, Gwen suddenly hurled Alex across the room. His body flew through the air, his limbs flailing uncontrollably, but before he could even hit the ground, Gwen was already rushing toward him at lightning speed.
This time, though, she didn't strike him like she usually did. Instead, she stopped in front of him, watching him with a predatory gleam in her eyes.
"I've learned something about you, Alex," Gwen said slowly, her voice dripping with malice. "You have this... special trait of reflecting back the power that's used against you. Well, let's see how you handle this."
As she spoke, her body began to blur, her form becoming a swirling mass of energy. Her outline flickered and distorted, almost as if she were phasing between reality and something else entirely. The sight sent a chill down Alex's spine as he realized she was about to unleash something far more dangerous than before.
Alex could only brace himself for what was coming next, his heart racing as Gwen's figure became more and more impossible to define.
Alex lay sprawled on the floor, disoriented by his unfamiliar surroundings. Although the physical environment hadn't changed, everything around him appeared blurred and indistinct. He struggled to discern the figures of his companions.
"It seems her loss has triggered something within her," Tamsin observed thoughtfully.
"Don't assume the fight is over yet," Elder Rooney interjected with a knowing smile, having overheard Tamsin's remark.
Meanwhile, Alex found himself inside what seemed like a dome. The walls were in constant motion, distorting his view of the outside world and turning it into a hazy blur.
Initially bewildered, Alex slowly began to grasp the situation. 'Is she moving so fast that her form has become a blur, making her invisible to my eyes?' Just as this realization dawned on him, a sudden kick landed on his leg, knocking him off balance. Before he could regain his footing, Gwen seized him by the legs, hurling him against the shifting wall.
"Admit it... You're defeated," Gwen demanded.
Alex chuckled defiantly. "Hahaha... Is that what this is all about? Never... I won't admit defeat to a girl, of all things..." However, before he could finish, Gwen's fist slammed into his stomach, cutting off his words and pinning him against the wall.
His eyelids grew heavy, tears brimming as he teetered on the brink of unconsciousness. Yet, just when he felt himself slipping away, a surge of energy coursed through him, revitalizing his spirit.
Seizing this critical moment, Alex drew back his fist and swung it towards Gwen. There was nothing elaborate about the punch, no refined technique, yet its power matched Gwen's own. The speed was incredible, and she was too close to evade it.
Incredibly, the punch seemed to pass harmlessly through her head and body. Gwen remained standing there, miraculously unharmed.
"What... What just happened? How many powers do you possess?" Alex asked, bewildered.
Gwen offered no reply. Instead, she raised her hand, poised to unleash another barrage of blows. However, just then, Elder Rooney's voice cut through the tension.
"That should be enough," Elder Rooney declared with authority.
"Why step in just when things are getting interesting?" Merrick muttered. However, a stern glance from Elder Rooney silenced him immediately.
Gwen released her grip on Alex, allowing him to collapse onto the floor. At that moment, an overwhelming sense of weakness swept over him. While he no longer felt on the verge of passing out, it was as if his body refused to obey his commands.
The cumulative effect of Gwen's hits was becoming painfully apparent.
"What's wrong with him?" Tamsin inquired, concerned.
"His body has been pushed to its limits, forced to handle powers beyond his capacity. Fortunately, Gwen held back, otherwise he might have tapped into even greater powers," Elder Rooney explained.
"Wait... She was still holding back? When are you guys ever going to take these fights seriously? Here I am, using everything I've got," Alex interjected, incredulous.
"I see you still have enough strength to run your mouth," Merrick teased.
"Alright, everyone, go fetch the healer, and Alex, we'll discuss what transpired during the fight," Elder Rooney instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.